Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

Your Guide

One of four presidential memorials on the National Mall, the FDR memorial, which is comprised of landscape rooms with water and sculpture, is tucked into a garden like environment on the west bank of the Tidal Basin. The memorial was groundbreaking – it demonstrated that visitors could encounter and understand complex stories through an orchestrated landscape experience and that they would enjoy numerous inscriptions. Roosevelt and important 20th century stories are portrayed at a human scale. The sound of water mitigates the disadvantage of being in the flight landing path of Reagan National Airport.

History:

A memorial to honor the 32nd President in West Potomac Park was approved in 1959. (Note: A desk-sized stone memorial to FDR is located north of the National Archives Building on Pennsylvania Avenue.)

In 1974, Lawrence Halprin won a design competition for the memorial. But, due to a failure by Congress to secure funds, Halprin’s design was not realized for over 20 years.

The memorial was dedicated on May 2, 1997.

In 2001, a sculpture of FDR in a wheelchair and a related quotation about what he had gained from his disability were added to the prologue room.

Rich in Water and Inscriptions

The FDR Memorial is rich in the use of water and inscriptions. Made entirely of red South Dakota and Minnesota granite, the site includes 21 quotes from FDR. Landscape architect Lawrence Halprin, FASLA, considered the memorial to be the pinnacle of his career, referring to it as “the apotheosis of all that I have done.”

Image: American Society of Landscape Architects

In Winter

Fountains are turned off in the winter, but snow may create a unique environment.

Image: National Park Service

Stone Waterfalls

Blocks of stone and waterfalls characterize much of the memorial.

Image: American Society of Landscape Architects

An Accessible Monument

New Deal programs are represented in sculptural columns. As a nod to Roosevelt’s disability, the memorial was the first monument in Washington, D.C. to be intentionally designed as wheelchair accessible. The memorial even incorporates Braille in a series of sculptures.

Image: American Society of Landscape Architects

One Room for Each Term

Halprin’s design consists of a series of four outdoor rooms with sculptures, fountains, and inscriptions representing a narrative of Roosevelt’s four terms as president. Water is a leitmotif, not only signifying Roosevelt’s personal connection with water being raised near the Hudson River, serving as a sailor and then Secretary of the Navy, and enjoying hot springs later in life. It also effectively controls air traffic noise.

Image: American Society of Landscape Architects

The Pervasive Sound of Flowing Water

Water effectively deadens the sound of aircraft; large jumbled stones take the quote I HATE WAR and illustrate the chaos of war.

Image: American Society of Landscape Architects

A Rural Couple

A Depression-era rural couple evokes the despair of the times.

Image: National Park Service

An Interactive Memorial

Sculpture was designed to be interactive and visitors often join the breadline.

Image: National Park Service

Depression-era Breadline

A close-up of the Depression-era breadline.

Image: American Society of Landscape Architects

Statue of Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Halprin’s original design controversially did not depict FDR in a wheelchair. Halprin argued that Roosevelt should be depicted without the wheelchair, as that is how he appeared in public during his life. Eventually, Halprin added a fifth room, a “prologue” with a sculpture of FDR in his wheelchair.

Image: National Park Service

Fala

FDR's dog.

Image: National Park Service

New Deal Programs as Sculpture

Series of sculpture that represents the New Deal programs. The panels are also placed on nearby columns.

Image: American Society of Landscape Architects

Inscribed Quotations

The memorial is rich in quotations on the tall walls of each of the memorial rooms.

Image: American Society of Landscape Architects

Comments

Amy Christiansen RN November 5, 2012 3:14 AM

Ive been to DC several times, but only last year discovered this incredible memorial. GO SEE THIS. A must see is right!!!

Barbara StrainSeptember 23, 2012 8:53 AM

Our family has been going to Washington, DC for more than 25 years and discovered this gem of a memorial this summer. What a refreshing delight along the Potomac basin. A must see recommendation.